More than 170,000 people have been affected by flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in India’s northeastern state of Assam, NDTV reported.

According to the broadcaster, the floods have impacted 12 districts, 30 administrative circles and 580 villages. 

The worst-hit areas are the districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat, where residential areas have been inundated and embankments and railway lines have been damaged. More than 10,000 hectares of agricultural land have also been flooded.

In the city of Guwahati, floodwaters entered homes, damaging furniture and household appliances. Many families have been unable to prepare food after their kitchens were submerged. 

The high water levels have also disrupted rail services, with several train routes cancelled, shortened or diverted. Rescue operations are under way, involving the Indian Army, the Assam Rifles and the National Disaster Response Force. Dozens of boats have been deployed to evacuate residents stranded by the floods.

The area affected by a major wildfire in central Spain has exceeded 26,000 hectares, according to Emiliano García-Page, President of the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha.

In a post on X, García-Page said the wildfire, which broke out on July 16 near the municipality of La Mierla, is the largest ever recorded in the region. 

He said a record number of firefighters and aircraft had been deployed to combat the blaze.

More than 1,000 residents have been evacuated from several communities as a precaution. No injuries have been reported. 

On July 9, a separate wildfire broke out in Spain’s autonomous community of Andalusia, killing 13 people, most of them foreign nationals.

Greece is experiencing its first heatwave of the season, with temperatures expected to exceed 40°C on July 20, Reuters reported.

Authorities have advised residents to stay indoors and avoid outdoor work between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

They have also urged people to keep household waste indoors during those hours for public health reasons.

Air-conditioned public facilities have been opened to help people cope with the extreme heat, while a 24-hour emergency hotline has been made available to provide medical advice.

The fire service has also urged the public to avoid any activities that could spark wildfires.

 Although Greece had until now avoided the severe heatwave affecting Western Europe, the country has been battling daily wildfires fuelled by strong winds and dry conditions. Concerns have also been raised over water shortages following years of drought. Meteorologists expect the high temperatures to persist for the next three days.

 Earlier, European authorities reported that the record-breaking heatwave that swept across Western Europe in late June was associated with an estimated 10,000 excess deaths.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on July 19 that he intends to ask Judit Polgar, widely regarded as the greatest female chess player of all time, to become the country’s next president.

In a Facebook post, Magyar said the 49-year-old Polgar could serve as a symbol of national unity. He added that he would meet with her on July 20 to ask whether she is willing to accept the nomination.

Earlier, Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment passed by Magyar’s ruling Tisza party that brings his term as head of state to an end after sustained political pressure.

The amendment forms part of Magyar’s broader effort to dismantle the institutional power base built by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Magyar has said voters gave him a mandate to pursue those reforms after his party’s landslide victory in April.

Parliament, where Magyar’s Tisza party holds the two-thirds majority required for constitutional amendments, will elect a new president, who will serve until a new constitution takes effect or for a maximum of five years.

Polgar is widely regarded as the greatest female chess player in history. She remains the only woman to have surpassed the 2700 Elo rating mark, a level commonly associated with “super-grandmasters.”

Earlier this year, Netflix released the documentary Queen of Chess, chronicling Polgar’s life and career.

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has said Japan should begin an open debate on the role of nuclear weapons in its security policy. According to Kyodo News, Koizumi said Japan can no longer avoid discussing the issue as the country’s security environment becomes increasingly complex.

The Japanese government plans to review its three key national security strategy documents by the end of 2026. 

Since 1967, Japan has adhered to its three non-nuclear principles: not possessing, producing or permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into its territory. At the same time, the country relies on the United States’ extended deterrence, including the U.S. nuclear umbrella, for its security. 

Koizumi cited Finland and France as examples of changing nuclear security policies in Europe. Finland’s parliament approved legislation in June allowing the import, transit and storage of nuclear weapons when required for national defence, while French President Emmanuel Macron announced in March plans to expand France’s nuclear arsenal.

Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan has visited INTER AQUA LLC, one of the country’s leading aquaculture companies.

Papoyan said in a Facebook post that the fish farm covers an area of 6.5 hectares and employs 60 people.

“I visited INTER AQUA LLC, one of the leading companies in the aquaculture sector. Its annual production capacity is around 1,100 tonnes. The company raises beluga, sterlet, Siberian sturgeon, rainbow trout, red-spotted trout and Gegharkuni trout,” the minister wrote.

He added that the discussions focused on the sector’s development prospects, opportunities to expand production and the possibility of exporting the company’s products to the European Union.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan has dismissed media reports claiming that a shipment of Armenian apricots bound for Spain spoiled in transit and was no longer fit for sale.

On July 19, Armenian news website Armatmedia reported that a consignment of apricots exported from Armenia to Spain had allegedly spoiled on the way to its destination, resulting in significant losses.

Responding to the report, Khojoyan wrote on his Facebook page that Armenia has not yet exported any apricots to Spain.

“The entire internet is saying that apricots exported to Spain spoiled in transit. Armenia has not yet exported any apricots to Spain,” Khojoyan wrote. 

Russia has imposed restrictions on imports of stone fruits and grapes from Armenia since June 2. 

In response, the Armenian government has taken steps to diversify export markets, creating opportunities for Armenian products to enter European markets. Armenia has already begun exporting certain products to European Union member states. 

The European Union also plans to temporarily suspend import duties on around 80% of Armenian products as a support measure for Armenia amid the restrictions imposed by Russia.

Armenian Ambassador to the United States Narek Mkrtchyan took part in a roundtable discussion titled Armenia’s Path Forward at the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC).

According to the Armenian Embassy in the United States, the ambassador outlined the current agenda of Armenia-U.S. relations, highlighted key areas of bilateral cooperation and emphasized new opportunities for collaboration in high technologies, critical minerals, semiconductors, nuclear energy and artificial intelligence.

Participants in the discussion also raised questions about Armenia-U.S. relations, regional developments, Armenia’s foreign policy priorities and other related issues.

The pre-trial investigation into the criminal case concerning the sale of the Black Fortress (Sev Berd) in Gyumri during the tenure of former Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan has been completed.

According to Armenia’s Investigative Committee, the investigation obtained prima facie evidence indicating that, on May 11, 2005, Sargsyan sold the Black Fortress-a 626.45-square-metre immovable monument of history and culture of national significance-together with the 0.7-hectare plot of land designated for its use, to a private individual through a direct sale under a real estate purchase agreement for 22.9515 million drams.

The Committee alleges that the transaction was not based on, or provided for by, decisions of the Armenian government. According to the Investigative Committee, these actions caused significant harm to the state’s lawful interests through negligence, resulting in grave consequences.

Specifically, the state lost ownership of a cultural and historical monument of national significance, and the site was subsequently not included in the appendices to the Armenian government’s March 15, 2007 Decision No. 385-N approving the list of state-owned historical and cultural monuments not subject to privatisation. 

During the investigation, the supervising prosecutor initiated public criminal prosecution against Sargsyan under Article 441(2)(5) of Armenia’s Criminal Code, which concerns abuse or excess of official authority by a public official resulting, through negligence, in other grave consequences. 

The criminal case has been forwarded to the supervising prosecutor together with the indictment. 

Note: A person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code and by a final court judgment.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 20 July, USD exchange rate down by 0.92 drams to 365.93 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.87 drams to 418.37 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0002 drams to 4.6651 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.12 drams to 492.91 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 97 drams to 47005 drams. Silver price down by 15.91 drams to 650.48 drams.